The Kids Are Alright

4 Mar 2013

And now for a good word about Chicago public schools: I spent a leisurely afternoon yesterday at the Chicago World of Wheels hot rod & custom car show, and happened upon this group of Dunbar High students proudly showing off their shop class project, a slammed full custom import sporting Lambo-style doors.

Although this style of car is not really my taste (I’m more of a stodgy ’27-’34 Ford hot rod purist), I’m aware of the skills it takes to pull something like this off and offered my compliments. They were brimming with enthusiasm and details about the build. All said they were hoping to make a career in automotive tech, and rattled off their college choices as UTI, WyoTech, Gateway.

For all that’s wrong with public education in Chicago, CPS should be proud of what they taught these young men. And I hope these young men taught CPS something too.

In short, well done, fellas. You’ve lived up to Dunbar’s nickname of The Mighty Men.